Hydraulic crimping tool for crimping t-tap connectors



Jan. 17, 1961 w. R. EVANS ET AL 2,968,202

HYDRAULIC CRIMPING TOOL FOR CRIMPING T-TAP CONNECTORS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed April 11, 1958 NVENTOR.

(QM \am R. Evans BY HevbePt C. $10113 Jan. 17, 1961 w. R. EVANS ET AL2,963,202

HYDRAULIQCRIMPING TOOL FOR CRIMPING T-TAP CONNECTORS Filed April 11,1958 4 Sheets$heet 2 i o 0 4 5 S 5 v] w HIHEQ v lN-VENTOR. (A HhamR-Evans Xerbefi: C. 5101 53 Jan. .17, 1961 w. R. EVANS ET AL 2,968,202

HYDRAULIC CRIMPING TOOL FOR CRIMPING T-TAP CONNECTORS Filed April' 11,.1958 4 Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR.

(Qflham R. EYEYIE: BY )(erbefi C. 51 R} MW W Jan. 17, 1961 w. R- EVANSET AL Filed April 11, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Ii I 5 TOl2| 4 I I I I 1 I II I 20 I I I I INVENTOR.

Un ited States Patent;

HYDRAULIC CRllVlPlNG TOOL FOR CRIMPING T-TAP CONNECTORS William R.Evans, Hershey, and Herbert C. Stoltz,

Palmyra, Pa., assignors to AMP Incorporated, Harrisburg, Pa.

Filed Apr. 11, 1958, Ser. No. 727,910

2 Claims. 01. 81-15)- This invention relates to a tool for crimpingelectrical connectors onto conductors. It includes the type of toolwherein a set of crimping dies forges the connector onto the conductorand then a second set of crimping dies locks the connector in place.Such a tool is shown in the patent application No. 634,756, filedJanuary 17, 1957, now patent No. 2,863,346, by Martin Klingler andRobert Cobaugh. However it is equally applicable to a single crimp typeof tool.

It is an object of this invention to provide a hydraulic tool having onehandle pivoted at the end of the tool. This increases the mechanicaladvantage without increasing the size since the entire length of thetool may be employed as leverage for the handle. Also the pumping ram isarranged so as to be disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis of thetool whereby a fairly large ram may be employed without adding bulk tothe tool.

Other objects and attainments of the present invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the followingdetailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings inwhich there is shown and described an illustrative embodiment of theinvention; it is to be understood, however, that this embodiment is notintended to be exhaustive nor limiting of the invention but is given forpurposes of illustration in order that others skilled in the art mayfully understand the invention and the principles thereof and the mannerof applying it in practical use so that they may modify it in variousforms, each as may be best suited to the conditions of a particular use.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a plan view of a tool embodying principles of thisinvention;

Figure 2 is a side view of the tool shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along plane 3-3 in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a view similar to'Figure 3 showing the dies and hydraulicsystem during the crimping cycle;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view similar to Figure 4 showing the dies andhydraulic system in final position;

Figure 6 is an exploded view of the movable die assembly;

Figure 7 shows the hydraulic control mechanism in a closed position; and

Figure 8 shows the hydraulic control mechanism in an open position.

As shown in Figure l the tool basically is comprised of threecomponents, a head member designated A, a pair of handles designated B,and a body member designated C. The head member is generally shaped asshown at 10, and has a pair of die members including one stationary die12 and one movable die assembly 14 positioned therein. The die assemblyrepresented at 14, as shown in Figure 6, is actuated by the hydraulicsystem.

A handle 16 (Figure l) is pivoted as at 18, near one extremity of thehead member 10. The other handle 20 extends longitudinally from theother end of the body member C. Handle 20 may be rotated about its own2,968,202 Ce Patented Jan. 17, 1961 axis to release the fluid after thecrimp is completed as will be described later.

As shown in Figure 6 the driving means for the movable die assemblyconstitutes a ram 22, with a slot 24 therein. A bottom of the ramincludes a plate-like piston 26, and the top of the ram includes a dieholding means 28. The piston 22 contains the connector deforming die. Aclinching or locking die 36 has an extensible member 32 which rides inthe slot 24. The clinching die 36 extends along the side of theextensible member 32 and projects above it. A slot or recess 34 in thebottom of the clinching die accommodates an actuating piston 33. Springmember 40 holds the clinching die in. inoperative or retracted positionduring the first part of the crimping cycle.

As shown in Figure 3, the handle 16 is secured (via link 17) to a ram 52in a chamber 50. When the handle is moved outwardly the ram 52 israised, thus forming a vacuum in the chamber 50. Fluid is sucked out ofthe reservoir 21 in handle 20, through a valve member 42, port 44, pastspring loaded valve 46, through a port 48, and into chamber 50. As shownin Figure 4, inward movement of the handle forces fluid out of thechamber 50, at which time spring loaded valve 46 closes ofl the port 44.The fluid is thus forced back through the port 48 and upwardly throughport 54. Another spring loaded valve 56 is overcome, and the fluid findsits way into the chamber 73 containing the piston 60.

Continued stroking of the handle 16 causes the fluid to operate againstthe working face of the piston 60 to move the piston 60 (and the dieassembly 22, with it) against the action of spring 61. The piston 60also carries another valve 64 which is longitudinally adjustable bymeans of adjusting screw 65, threadedly secured in the assembly. Thisvalve remains seated in passageway 66 during the travel of piston 60under the action of spring 67, but is adjusted to unseat when the piston60 nears the upper limit of its travel (note Figure 5). This permits thefluid to operate against the working face of piston 33 thus actuatingthe clincher die 36. The piston 33 moves the clincher die upwardly inthe slot 24 against the action of spring 40. As shown in the applicationreferred to above, the clincher die locks the connector after the crimpis completed. An overload release valve 76 is included in the system sothat any further pumping allows fluid to by-pass through port 78 andreturn to the reservoir.

When the crimp is completed and it is desired to release the dies,rotation of the handle 20 causes the valve 42 to unseat from thepassageway 70. Opening the valve 42 permits fluid to escape from thesystem and return to the reservoir. The return spring 61 drives thepiston 60 downwardly forcing fluid through port 80 (Figure 5), chamber82, port 84 (located in valve 86, as shown in Figure 8) through acentral passageway 88 in the valve piston 42, and thus back into thereservoir 21.

The clincher die is returned to its inoperative position by spring 40.The fluid in chamber 71 is forced through valve 90 and returns to thereservoir along with the fluid in chamber 73.

Changes in construction will occur to those skilled in the art andvarious apparently different modifications and embodiments may be madewithout departing from the scope of the invention. The matter set forthin the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by wayof illustration only. The actual scope of the invention is intended tobe defined in the following claims when viewed in their properperspective against the prior art.

We claim:

1. A hand tool for crimping electrical connectors including a bodymember having a head on one .end thereof, a fixed die located in saidhead, a pair of movable dies slidable in said body member, hydraulicmeans for actuating said movable dies, said hydraulic means including areservoir containing operating fluid, meansyfor actuating said fluid, afirst chamber including a first piston and cylinder means for operatingsaid dies simultaneously, a second chamber including a second piston andcylinder means for operating one of said dies only, and valve meansoperable from a closed position wherein it prevents flow of fluid fromsaid first chamber to said second chamber to a second position whereinit permits flow of fluid from said first chamber to said second chamber,said valve means including a valve seat in said first piston, a valvebody urged toward said valve seat and slidable in said tool body, andmeans for limiting travel of said valve body, whereby after the firstpiston has moved a distance equal to the length of travel of the valvebody,

further movement of the first piston opens the valve seat to permitfluid to flow into said second chamber.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the means for actuating the fluidincludes a first handle fixed to said tool body, and a second handlepivoted at the top of the tool head, and a link pivotally secured at oneend to the movable handle, and at the opposite end to the hydraulicmeans.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,244,317 Gaffney Oct. 23, 1917 2,620,160 Ray Dec. 2, 1952 2,696,850Peterson Dec. 14, 1954 2,777,345 Reider Jan. 15, 1957 2,821,877 SwansonFeb. 4, 1958 2,863,346 Cobaugh et a1. Dec. 9, 1958

